1. The role of the pastor is to create a safe place/environment for the child to feel safe enough to share. Children also need counselling, example: in times of bereavement and grief, parents try to protect their children from the realities of sadness, but children need to grieve and understand as best they can. Children have the same struggles and hopes as adults, if you counsel adults then you can counsel children. Naturally the language you would use should be appropriate for the age.

2. Using play as a tool to build rapport with children is an excellent way to begin conversation with children about what they are feeling, as it provides a non-threatening environment. Another tool is art, because art is another form of expression. When a kid is done you could ask them, “what is happening in this picture?”.